New old 1150

[ekenstam50]

I am just about to by a 1150. It has 600 miles on the meter and is a 2001!
So, it has been standing in a garage most of its life.
What should I fix? you people of great knowledge.
Change the oil everywhere? yes.
But then?
An why doesn't 1150 have a steering damper? Is it unvisible? How to tighten it, the bike is sooo lose compared to my 850.

[leno]

The R1150r does not have a stearing damper because it does not need one. Unlike jap factories BMW does not add things just because it's fashionable. A stearing dampener is not there to stiffen the stering it's there to tune out steering osulations which would esculate into uncontrolable tank slaps. Normaly due to radical steering angles which the BMW's don't have. Your 850 should have light steering the same as the 1150, check the head race.

A bike which has been sitting could have flat spot bearings. It will be fine for a while but might have issues later in life. I would certanly change the tyres and check anything rubber, hose and seals. Change all liquid, cluch and brakes, oil and petrol.

[dwayne]

...A bike which has been sitting could have flat spot bearings. It will be fine for a while but might have issues later in life. I would certanly change the tyres and check anything rubber, hose and seals. Change all liquid, cluch and brakes, oil and petrol.

I agree. Also, change the brake pads even if they are like new. Your life depends on it. I would also check your fuse box for any rust (on the contacts) or mildew. Also, check the pivot point bolts for the telelever swing arm. There was a recent post about there being a little bit of rust in there. Change the air filter of course...can't think of anything else, but I'll post anything else I remember.

[apaulcopy]

Actually, I had the same question about the steering damper, or lack thereof. I traded up to the 1150R from a 2000 R1100R, which did have a steering damper. Same telelever suspension design (though the arm is a bit different). So what's different that a steering damper was needed before but not now? Is the geometry different? I think the 1150R handles just fine, but it is interesting that the damper was eliminated.

[Alannc]

If there is fuel in it drain it and I sure would put in a new fuel filter.

Alan

[Smoothrider]

Actually, I had the same question about the steering damper, or lack thereof. I traded up to the 1150R from a 2000 R1100R, which did have a steering damper. Same telelever suspension design (though the arm is a bit different). So what's different that a steering damper was needed before but not now? Is the geometry different? I think the 1150R handles just fine, but it is interesting that the damper was eliminated.

The steering angles are different and BMW produced a large handlebar mounted screen for the R1100R. Their screens for the R1150R are much smaller and the bars are flatter.

[CycleRob]

Steering dampers are not the norm. They are required only if a bike exhibits "handling anomalies".

The R1150R is a very stable bike.

[leno]

My old R1100R did not have a steering damper and never needed one.

[switz]

Last month I purchased a 2004 R1150R with 3,632 miles on it. It had been in service about 14 months. I wanted a clean slate:

Replaced both tires with new metzler tires
Replaced front and rear brake pads
Flushed brake and clutch lines and new fluid
Changed all oils - engine, transmission, rear end and oil filters
Tuned engine - throttle body sync
Changed air filter
New rubber on shifter and brake lever
Checked steering head bearings and wheel bearings

Total cost just over $1,148 for all the parts and labor. Now I know where I stand as far as current maintaince is concerned. Any broken structural areas would have been detected while all this was being done to the bike. Too much service never hurt a mechanical entitiy.